This is a short book which describes the development of Darwin's 'Origin of Species' and examines its wider impact.
Janet Browne is the author of a large and highly-acclaimed two-volume biography of Charles Darwin. This new volume is slightly different - it is a biography of Darwin’s most famous book, rather than the story of Darwin’s life or indeed the development of evolutionary ideas. At times, the distinction is blurred because to understand the genesis of 'The Origin' it is necessary to understand Darwin’s personal journey. Therefore the current volume includes much of the material from Browne’s larger works, but in far less detail. Curiously, it does not mention the meticulous way in which Darwin promoted 'The Origin', by sending copies and carefully-worded individual covering letters to influential people. Also missing is the purchase of a substantial proportion of the first edition by Mudie’s Select Circulating Library, which did much to encourage readership of the (then expensive 14/-) book in Victorian England.
The final chapter deals with 'The Origin’s' fall from grace in the early part of the 20th century, only to be revitalised in the 1940s by the 'Modern Synthesis' of genetics and natural selection. It also describes the somewhat surprising resurgence of opposition to Darwinism by fundamentalist religious groups in the United States. As Browne points out, although Darwin’s ideas were hotly debated in Victorian England, organised opposition from fundamentalist religious groups is very much a late 20th century phenomenon.
This enjoyable book can be read from cover-to-cover on a long summer evening, but if you've read Janet Browne's biography of Darwin it might prove disappointing; I suspect that the format of this series of short books is more to blame than the author.
Darwin’s Origin of species by Janet Browne (2006) Atlantic Books, London (Books that shook the world series). ISBN: 1843543931. [Hardback, 128 pages.]
Darwin's 'Origin of Species' by Janet Browne
This is a short book which describes the development of Darwin's 'Origin of Species' and examines its wider impact.
Janet Browne is the author of a large and highly-acclaimed two-volume biography of Charles Darwin. This new volume is slightly different - it is a biography of Darwin’s most famous book, rather than the story of Darwin’s life or indeed the development of evolutionary ideas. At times, the distinction is blurred because to understand the genesis of 'The Origin' it is necessary to understand Darwin’s personal journey. Therefore the current volume includes much of the material from Browne’s larger works, but in far less detail. Curiously, it does not mention the meticulous way in which Darwin promoted 'The Origin', by sending copies and carefully-worded individual covering letters to influential people. Also missing is the purchase of a substantial proportion of the first edition by Mudie’s Select Circulating Library, which did much to encourage readership of the (then expensive 14/-) book in Victorian England.
The final chapter deals with 'The Origin’s' fall from grace in the early part of the 20th century, only to be revitalised in the 1940s by the 'Modern Synthesis' of genetics and natural selection. It also describes the somewhat surprising resurgence of opposition to Darwinism by fundamentalist religious groups in the United States. As Browne points out, although Darwin’s ideas were hotly debated in Victorian England, organised opposition from fundamentalist religious groups is very much a late 20th century phenomenon.
This enjoyable book can be read from cover-to-cover on a long summer evening, but if you've read Janet Browne's biography of Darwin it might prove disappointing; I suspect that the format of this series of short books is more to blame than the author.
Darwin’s Origin of species by Janet Browne (2006) Atlantic Books, London (Books that shook the world series). ISBN: 1843543931. [Hardback, 128 pages.]